Rajiv Menon

A Gold Medalist from the Film and Television Institute, Chennai, and a celebrated Cinematographer, director, ad-film maker, singer, orator and teacher, the 54 year old Rajiv Menon is as accomplished as he is gifted. Known for his exquisite and technically brilliant camera work, Rajiv achieved National recognition for his breakthrough cinematography in Mani Ratnam's Bombay. His cinematography for Guru Won him the Apasara Award and Shantaram Awards while Tamil feature film Kadal got him the Filmfare award for the best cinematographer. Rajiv's deep understanding of cinema and his technical excellence saw him direct a blockbuster movie in 1997, Minsara Kanavu, produced by the renowned AVM Studios and the movie won four national awards. In 2000, Rajiv directed a much acclaimed Kandukondain Kandukondain, a Tamil adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, which won the Filmfare award for best film and best director. It also won a National award for the best male playback singer. The film was screened at numerous prestigious International Film Festivals. In 2019, he directed his third film 'Sarvam Thaalamayam';, a film based on music. It was premiered in Tokyo Film festival 2018. Rajiv's skills as an accomplished cameraman were honed in his long career as an ad-film maker of repute. In 1986, Rajiv founded the eponymous Rajiv Menon Productions, RMP, and began producing TV commercials for several national brands. The Ad Club Madras in its 50th year celebrations in March 2006 had honored Rajiv with the Living Legend Award. Imbued with a deep sense of social responsibility, Rajiv has lent his talent to several public service films for which he has won accolades. In 1987, the film Anga Karunya Kendra won the best public service film from the Bangalore Ad Club. Films such as Understanidng Schizopherenia in 1992 and Glimpses from the Dark-1993 won awards from the Madras Ad Club in their respective years of release. A Passionate teacher, Rajiv mentored several award-winning cinematographers and directors such as Ravi K Chandran, R D Rajasekhar, Ratnavelu and Gautam Menon during their formative years. With a keen desire to give back to the industry that nurtured him over the years, Rajiv founded the Mindscreen Film Institute , a film school that fosters tomorrow's talent by providing comprehensive training across all facets of cinematography, screen writing and film-making. From Manikandan who directed the award winning Tamil film Kakka Muttai to Swapneel Sonawane, the cinematographer for the Hindi film Newton, India's Oscar entry film. The success of Alumni of Mindscreen is testament to the growing popularity and respects the institution commands nationally in the Indian Film Industry. A fine orator with an abiding interest in Indian Art and Culture, Rajiv has been invited to speak on Indian Culture at various forums like the Prestigious Music Academy to Shruthi magazine to scientific lecture on Changes in Imaging Technology to the students at IIT Madras.He is a successful entrepreneur, a connoisseur of classical arts, a widely appreciated and critically acclaimed cinematographer.